Rotary steam engine



Am., w, w23. 1,451,653

E. ERICSSON ROTARY STEAM ENGINE Filed Dec. 16, 1920 A2 sheets-sheet l bis fomey Apr. w, 1923. 1,451,653'

E. ERICSSON ROTARY STEAM ENGINE Filed Deo. 16, 1920 2 sheets-sheet 2 EZOVEMLCJJOPL,

SYETIYOK WZ y bis g Patented pr.. lill, 1923.

NETE@ STATES PATENT FHQE.

ELOV ERICSSON, OF Sl. PAUL, MINNESOTA.

ROTARY STEAM ENGINE.

Application filed December 16, 1920. Serial No. 431,234.

To all 'ie/lum 'if' muy conce/M1,

Bc it known that l', Enov Ericsson, a citizen of the VUnited States, residingl at raul, in the county of Ramsey and titate of liiinncsota, have invented new and. useful improvements in lilotary Steam .llngincs of which the followingl is a speciiii-ation.

My invention relates to improvements in rotary steam engines.

Its object is to provide an cilicicnt engine of this type.

further object is to provide a rotary engine with means for minimizing friction and leakage of steam.

Another object of my invention is to pro-- vide valve mechanism for an engine of this type which is adjustable to compensate for expansion, wear and side thrust.

Referring to the accompanying drawings Figure 1 is an end elevation of my improved engine partially in section; Fig. 2 is a plan view of the same; Fig. 9 is a cent al si-.wtion through the rotor, piston and pecll Y, rings; Fig. 4 is a detail plan view of the aoutment disc and Fig. 5 is a detail elevation of the piston.

I have used the numeral 1 to indicate a suitable base for the engine; 2 is the main cylinder casing, 3 the valve housing, 4 the main power shaft, 5 the annular cylinder, 6 the piston, 7 the steam port, 8 the exhaust port, 9 the abutment disc and 10 the steam valve. The valve 10 is keyed to a vertical valve shaft 11, which is driven from the main shaft 4 by means of an oblique shaft 12 and suitable gears. Tie valve is cup shaped, being formed with an aperture 13 in its periphery which is adapted to register with the steam port 7 for the admission of steam to the cylinder. A steam chest 111, surrounding the valve 10, is sepa 'ated by a partition 16 from a compartment 17 in which the abutment disc 9 rotates. The latter disc is rigidly mounted on the shaft 11 and adapted to intersect the cylinder 5 at right angles thereto. he disc is formed with a passageway 18 for the piston 6 (Figure 2).

Splined on the main shaft t is a rotor 19 carrying an arm 2O to which the piston 6 is rigidly attached, and the cylinder 5 1s formed with an annular opening in .its inner wall for the arm 20, an annular flange 21 being formed on the periphery7 of the rotor 19 to lill this opening. '1n addition to the flange 21 the rotor 19 is formed with flanges 22, one on each face of said roto-r and extending at right angles to the fiange 21, which form baffles to stop the escape of steam from the cylinder 5. Escape of steam 1s further prevented by a. pair of rings 23 mounted in the face of each of the Hang-es and a third beveled ring mounted in the cylinder casing 8 on each side of the flange 21. The piston 6 is formed with annular grooves 25, for piston rings of the usual type, toward one end, and its other end is beveled at 26 to facilitate clearing the aperture 18 in the disc 9.

Side thrust on the shaft 11, caused by steam pressure in the cylinder 5 on the abutme-nt plate 9 and on the valve 10 through the port 7, is taken care of by making the main bearings` 27, 28 and 29 adjustable toward and away from the shaft 4; by means of bolts 30. These bolts are journalled in lugs '30s, formed on the steam chest cap 31 and the wall 32 of the compartment 17, and are threaded in supports and 34 for the bearings 27, 28 and 29. Around the shaft 11, at the points where it passes into the steam chest 14 and compartment 17, are positioned suitable stuffing boxes to prevent the escape of steam from said chest, and aring 35, around the cylinder 5 adjacent to the disc 9, prevents the escape of steam from said cyll inder around said disc on the steam port side.

.ln operation the piston 6 is rotated in the annular cylinder 5 by steam which is admitted to the cylinder at the' proper time by the valve 10 through the aperture 13 and port 17. The steam upon entering expands against the abutment 9 and forces the piston in the direction indicated by an arrow in Figure 1. Jafter sufficient steam is admitted the valve 10 closes the port 7 and the steam expands until the piston has uncovered the exhaust port 8 and passed through the aperture 18 in the disc 9 when exhaust takes place. As soon as the piston 6 has passed the aperture 18 the abutment disc 9 closes the cylinder at this. point and the valve 10, opening the port 7, admits fresh steam to the cylinder. The cycle is now repeated.

An important feature of my device is the construction and location of the ring 24, the outer periphery of which makes contact with piston 6 as it rotates. Further, the tendency of the ring 24 to spring outward causes its beveled surface tol come in contact with a. similar beveled surface in the casing 2 and llo thereby force said ring downward to make a snug steam tight joint with the flange 21 on the rot-or 19. Other important features rendering my device peculiarly efficient are the construction of the abutment disc 9 with a very small bearing surface and separation of the steam chest 14C from the compartment 17 in which the disc 9 rotates. The latter feature makes thorough lubrication possible and effects a material saving of steam and the rotation of said disc in contact with a small bearing surface greatly reduces the friction.

I-l ving described my invention What I claim as new and desire to protect by Ilettcrs Patent is:

l. In an engine, a. rotor, a piston fixed in the periphery of said rotor, an annular cylinder in which said piston is adapted to travel, said cylinder being provided with steam and exhaust ports, a steam chest mounted adjacent to said steam port, a valve shaft extending through said chest, a valve and an abutment'disc mounted on said shaft, said disc being separated from said valve by a steam tight partition and means for driving the valve shaft from the rotor. j

2. In an engine, an annular cylinder having an annular slot in its inner wall, a rotor formed with an arm projecting into said slot, a piston fixed on said arm, a flange formed on said rotor to close said slot, a beveled ring in the casing of said cylinder adjacent to said fiange, annular baffles carrying rings on said rotor adjacent to said flange, steam and exhaust ports in said cylinder, a steam chest mounted adjacent to said steam port, a valvel shaft extending through said chest, a valve and an abutment disc mounted on said shaft and means for driving the valve shaft from the rotor.

'3. In anY engine, an annular cylinder having an annular slot in its inner wall, a rotor formed with an arm projecting into said slot,

piston fixed on said arm, a flange formed on said rotor to close said slot, a beveled ring` in the casing of said cylinder adjacent to said flange, annular baflles carrj'f'ingl rings on said r'otor adjacent to saidflange, steam and exhaust ports in said cylinder, a steam chest mounted adjacent to said steam port, a valve shaft extending through said chest, a valve andV an abut-ment disc mounted on said shaft, said disc being separated from said valve by a steam tight partition, and means for driving the valve shaft from theA rotor.

4. In an engine, a rotor, a piston fixed in the periphery of said rotor. an annular cylinder in Which said piston is adapted to travel, a steam chest mounted adjacent to said cylinder, .a valve shaft extending through said chest, an abutment dise mounted on said shaft, separated from said chest by a steam tight partition and projecting into said cylinder, a steam port between said cylinder and chest, acup shaped valve on said shaft in said chest and adapted to admit'and cut off the admission of steam through said port, and means for driving the valve shaft from the rotor. I

5. In an engine, an annular cylinder having an annular slot in its inner Wall, a rotor formed with an arm projecting into said slot, a piston fixed on said arm, a flange formed on said rotor to close said slot, a beveled ring in the casing of said cylinder adjacent to said Hange to prevent the escape of steam from said cylinder, steam and exhaust ports in said cylinder, a steam chest mounted adjacent to said steam port, a valve shaft extendingl through said chest, a single valve and an abutment disc mounted on said shaft, said valve being adapted to admit and cut off the admission of steam to said cylinder, a ring encircling said cylinder adjacent to -said disc, and means for driving the valve shaft from the rotor.

6. In an engine, a horizontal sha-ft, a rotor fast on said shaft, a piston fixed in the periphery of said rotor, an annular cylinder in which said piston is adapted to travel, said cylinder being provided vvith steam and exhaust ports, a steam chest mounted adjacent to said steam port, a vertical shaft extending through 'said chest and adapted to be driven from said horizontal shaft, a valve andan abutment disc mounted on said vertical shaft, said valve being positioned in said chest and said disc being separated from said. valve b-y a steam tight partition, an end thrust bearing and upper and lower journalled bearings for -said vertical shaft and independent adjusting means for said upper and lower bearings.

7. In an engine, a shaft, arotor fast on said shaft, a piston fixed in the periphery of said rotor, an annular cylinder in which said piston is adapted to travel, said cylinder be ing provided With steam and exhaust ports, a steam chest mounted adjacent to said steam port, a valve shaft extending through said chest and adapted to be driven from said first mentioned shaft, a cup shaped valve having a bearing only on its periphery adjacent to said port in said chest, an abutment disc mounted on said valve shaft, said disc being.,r separated from said valve by a steam tight partition and adjusting means for said valve Shaft.

lllhereof, I have hereunto subscribed my name to this specification.

ELOV ERICSSON. 

